Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Josephine McNamara, Alixandra Risi, Amy L. Bird, Michelle L. Townsend, Jane S. Herbert
Summary: This study examines the impact of pregnancy acceptability and intendedness on maternal mental health and bonding during pregnancy. It found that lower pregnancy acceptability is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and distress, as well as lower physical and environmental quality of life and weaker antenatal bonding. Women who reported their pregnancy as intended had higher physical quality of life compared to those who reported their pregnancy as unintended. The relationship between distress and antenatal bonding was moderated by pregnancy acceptability, with lower bonding observed in women with low acceptability and higher distress. This knowledge can help identify individuals at risk for mental health and bonding difficulties.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kathreim Macedo da Rosa, Carolina Coelho Scholl, Lidiane Aguiar Ferreira, Jessica Puchalski Trettim, Gabriela Kurz da Cunha, Barbara Borges Rubin, Rayssa da Luz Martins, Janaina Vieira dos Santos Motta, Tatiane Bilhalva Fogaca, Gabriele Ghisleni, Karen Amaral Tavares Pinheiro, Ricardo Tavares Pinheiro, Luciana de Avila Quevedo, Mariana Bonati de Matos
Summary: The study showed that paternal overprotection was associated with higher maternal-fetal attachment, while pregnant women in the first trimester, those without a partner, and those who did not feel supported by the baby's father during pregnancy had lower scores of maternal-fetal attachment. The study highlights the importance of the paternal role, adequate support from the baby's father, and the presence of a partner during pregnancy in influencing the feelings and behaviors of pregnant women towards the fetus.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Karina M. Shreffler, Tiffany N. Spierling, Jens E. Jespersen, Stacy Tiemeyer
Summary: This study found that pregnant women who perceived their pregnancies as unintended or unwanted had lower levels of maternal-infant bonding postnatally, while higher levels of prenatal maternal-fetal bonding were associated with higher levels of postnatal maternal-infant bonding. Prenatal bonding was found to be protective for postnatal bonding among women with unintended pregnancies.
INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Merve Sahin, Nulufer Erbil
Summary: This study examined the impact of traumatic birth on pregnant women and the relationship between maternal antenatal attachment. The findings suggest that as the levels of maternal antenatal attachment increased, the perception of traumatic birth decreased.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Megan Galbally, Stuart Watson, Andrew J. Lewis, Josephine Power, Niels Buus, Marinus van IJzendoorn
Summary: This study examined the relationship between maternal attachment, perinatal depression, and emotional wellbeing. The findings showed that maternal attachment, specifically the Non-Autonomous states of mind, was associated with higher cortisol levels during pregnancy and higher depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Mothers with depression and Non-Autonomous states of mind also reported higher parenting stress after childbirth. There was no significant intergenerational concordance between attachment classifications. Further research is needed to understand the role of maternal attachment in perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Monireh Moniri, Fatemeh Rashidi, Mojgan Mirghafourvand, Mansour Rezaei, Solmaz Ghanbari-Homaie
Summary: This study assessed the relationship between pregnancy and childbirth experience with maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) and mother-child bonding. The findings showed that positive experiences during pregnancy are associated with higher levels of maternal-fetal attachment, while pregnancy hassles and childbirth experience did not show a significant relationship with mother-child bonding.
Article
Clinical Neurology
David A. Kalmbach, Anthony N. Reffi, Jason C. Ong, Philip Cheng, Olivia Walch, D'Angela S. Pitts, Grace M. Seymour, Mika Hirata, Andrea Roth, Thomas Roth, Christopher L. Drake
Summary: Treating insomnia during pregnancy can improve sleep and depressed mood, and the benefits may extend beyond sleep and depression. A mindfulness sleep program tailored to pregnancy, called "Perinatal Understanding of Mindful Awareness for Sleep" (PUMAS), was evaluated for its efficacy in enhancing mindfulness, maternal-fetal attachment, and alleviating anxiety, repetitive thinking, and sleep-related impairment. Results showed that PUMAS significantly improved everyday mindfulness and maternal-fetal attachment, while reducing anxiety, perseverative thinking, insomnia-focused rumination, and sleep-related impairment.
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Margaret S. Livingstone
Summary: Previous studies have shown that baby monkeys develop strong attachments to surrogate mothers with soft texture. A new study reveals that postpartum female monkeys also form strong attachments to inanimate surrogate infants, and tactile cues play a crucial role in triggering maternal attachment.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Jens E. Jespersen, Ashley N. Quigley, Karina M. Shreffler
Summary: This study found that pregnancy happiness may mediate the relationship between intendedness of pregnancy and maternal-fetal bonding. It highlights the importance of assessing mothers' pregnancy attitudes (e.g. how happy they are about their pregnancy) for maternal psychological health outcomes, such as the maternal-child relationship, rather than just considering whether the pregnancy was planned or not.
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Maria C. Gioia, Antonio Cerasa, Vito M. R. Muggeo, Paolo Tonin, Juanita Cajiao, Alessia Aloi, Iolanda Martino, Flaviana Tenuta, Angela Costabile, Francesco Craig
Summary: Maternal-Fetal Attachment (MFA) plays a protective role in the bonding between mother and child after birth and child development outcomes. This study investigates the association between perceived parental bonds and maternal-fetal bonding in pregnant women, considering factors like psychological distress and socio-demographic characteristics. Perceived maternal and paternal care have direct effects on maternal-infant bonding during pregnancy, while psychological distress has a borderline significant predictive role in prenatal attachment.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. R. Pursley, Alisson Santos, Thaina Minela
Summary: Lactating dairy cows have reduced chances for pregnancy survival following 1st parturition. The timing of conceptus attachment, indicated by the initial daily rise in pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) post artificial insemination (AI), is crucial for embryo survival. Nulliparous heifers receiving AI after estrus have a shorter time to conceptus attachment compared to lactating cows that received either Ovsynch or AI after estrus. Increasing progesterone post-AI does not reduce the time to conceptus attachment in lactating cows.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Chiara Sacchi, Marina Miscioscia, Silvia Visentin, Alessandra Simonelli
Summary: Study I revealed significant associations between MFA and the quality of the couple relationship (beta=.49, P<.001), and between MFA and the recall of memories of care received in childhood (beta=.22, P=.025). Study II demonstrated a predictive effect of MFA on observed maternal structuring during mother-infant interactions at 4 months of age (beta=0.36, P=.046).
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Gamze Teskereci, Mehtap Akgun, Ilkay Boz
Summary: This study investigated the precursors of prenatal attachment, adaptation to pregnancy, and maternal self-confidence, as well as their relationship with each other. The findings showed that women's evaluation of themselves during the prenatal period had a negative correlation with self-confidence and prenatal attachment. Women who conceived using assisted reproductive techniques were more ready to give birth compared to those who conceived spontaneously. This study has important implications for improving care during pregnancy.
JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Gemma Lopez-Fernandez, Maite Barrios, Juana Gomez-Benito
Summary: The study aimed to translate and adapt the Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI) into Spanish, develop a short form for use with mothers of children aged between 2 and 7 years, and test its psychometric properties. A bi-factor structure with four sub-scales and 17 items emerged, showing good internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the Spanish MAI short form.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Hedvig Svendsrud, Eivor Fredriksen, Vibeke Moe, Lars Smith, Stella Tsotsi, Anne Karin Ullebo, Gro Vatne Brean, Anne Kaasen, Mona Bekkhus
Summary: The study found that expectant fathers' prenatal representations of the unborn child, which refer to how they think and feel about the unborn child, are associated with their postnatal parenting behaviors, the quality of father-infant interaction, and child cognitive development. Specifically, fathers with an avoidant attachment style towards their partners are more likely to have absent or negative prenatal representations of the unborn child. On the other hand, father anxious attachment style is not significantly associated with absent or negative prenatal representations.